#HiFive for Lewis Hamilton: 2018 FIA Formula One World Drivers’ Champion

"I truly believed that we could win this championship but it has been the toughest battle we've had collectively as a team. There's so much work that goes on in the background, the guys in the garage have just been flawless every weekend with the pit stops, with the decision making, strategy, and set-up. That's been key ultimately for me, I feel like I can drive anything and take the car to places that nobody else can, but to do that you have to get the car in the right place. So you have to work with the team to help unleash what's great within them so you can unleash the greatness within yourself."

With the drivers' championship now wrapped up, Lewis has promised to help the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Team retain the constructors' championship in the final two races of the season in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. After being crown champ in Mexico City.

Lewis added: "I had some of the best races of my career, and that's why I'm sitting here as champion. It doesn't even register at the moment being number five, getting my first was amazing, the third was incredible. Right now it's very humbling as well, I'm quite conflicted emotionally, and this tough race I wanted to win, I had great start, it went from good to bad. I'm still fourth, not a bad finish, what we needed, but we've still got a team championship to win. In Mexico, we lost some points to Ferrari, I wanted to deliver for the team, we've still got two races to win.”

Meanwhile, Lewis's teammate Valtteri Bottas, was quick to praise the landmark achievement after playing a supporting role once his own championship hopes were extinguished.

Valtteri, who finished fifth, said: "Big congratulations to Lewis. He's had another strong season, especially in the second half, and really deserved this title. When I lost my opportunity for the title this year, I tried to help him a little to win the world championship, but I'm already looking forward to fight again next year.”

Team principal & CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport, Toto Wolff, wrapped things up by saying: "Usually, we don't acknowledge greatness until someone's career is over, but we need to take a moment to recognise its presence - Lewis has now equalled Fangio's record and there aren't many like him out there! Lewis has been the differentiator this season - our car was the fastest at times, but not always; sometimes, like today, it was only the third-fastest. And yet Lewis' performance was always was very stable, his race craft was absolutely great. It has always been one of his strengths, but this year it was definitely one of the key factors of his success. We're very happy about Lewis' fifth drivers' title and our fifth in a row as a team, but the job is not done yet. There's a constructors' championship out there that we still want to win.”